Golf Club With Level Indicator

ABSTRACT

A golf club incorporates a spirit level along the axis thereof. Such a club permits the slope of a green to be indicated by laying the club upon the ground, and may be an aid to novice golfers.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to golf clubs and in particular golfputters.

BACKGROUND

Many golfers have difficulty ‘reading’ a green so as to putt the golfball to the pin with the correct speed and direction. In particular itmay be difficult to assess the slope of the green, especially if theslope is slight or changes direction.

What is required is a simple means of determining green slope (if any)so as to allow a novice golfer to improve his game, and to learn to‘read’ a green. Such a device would be particularly useful as a trainingaid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a golf club incorporating aspirit level along the shaft axis thereof. The spirit level ispreferably within the shaft envelope. The spirit level is preferablymarked to indicate discrete angles away from true horizontal, andpreferably is so marked on either side of the mean (horizontal)condition.

The advantage of placing the spirit level along the shaft axis is thatwhen laid upon the green, the length of the golf club contributes to amore accurate indication of average slope.

In a preferred embodiment, the golf club is adapted to touch the groundsubstantially at either end, i.e. at head and handle, so as to make twopoints of contact with the ground. This is preferable to having a linecontact where slight protrusions of the ground may cause the golf clubto rock.

Preferably the golf club is adapted to lie naturally upon the ground,for example on one side, and the spirit level is aligned facing upwardlyso that it is easily viewed by the player.

The spirit level may be placed at any convenient point along the lengthof the golf club, and preferably at a location where bending of the golfclub shaft in use will not affect the stability thereof.

It will be appreciated that in normal use the spirit level should notinterfere with the playing qualities of the golf club, and in suchcircumstances should be imperceptible to the golfer.

Preferably the spirit level is incorporated within a putter. Theadvantage of a putter is that the shaft is not subjected to significantbending stress, as in a driver or an iron, so that freedom to place thespirit level at any location along the shaft is preserved.

The spirit level may include a cover, for example a slidable door orsleeve, to protect the face thereof from weather and dirt.

The spirit level may conveniently be incorporated within one componentof the golf club, for example the handle, shaft or head, so as tofacilitate manufacture and assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment shown by way of example only inthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a first side view of a putter

FIG. 2 is a second side view of the putter of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a spirit level portion of the putter of FIGS. 1-2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the drawings a putter 10 consists of a shaft 11 towhich is attached a head 12, which may be of any suitable shape. Thehead 12 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is representative, and the shapethereof forms no part of the present invention.

A handle 13 is attached or formed about the shaft, and is of a diameterand profile to suit the grip of the intended user.

Within the handle is incorporated a spirit level 14, preferably locatedin a position where least interference with the users grip will occurwhen a user is preparing to make a putt, and facing generally upwardlywhen the putter is laid upon the ground 15 (represented in dotted linein FIG. 2).

It will be appreciated that by virtue of the offset of the relativelyheavy head, the putter will lie naturally on its side, so that thespirit level can face upwardly. An alternative location 14 a for thespirit level is also illustrated. For example, as depicted in FIG. 2 theputter in its natural position has the face of the putter head facingupwards. The level 14 or 14 a is located to face in the same directionas the face of the putter so that the level 14 a or 14 can be easilyinspected by looking down on the putter as it lies on the putting green.

As illustrated the putter contacts the ground at two widely spacedpoints, represented by the wide putter head 12, and the grip ring 16 atthe end of the handle. Thus the putter can lie flat upon the ground,without rocking. In one embodiment, the level 14 a is located aboutmidway between the head 12 and the ring 16. In this position, the level14 a may provide an estimate of the average slope in the green extendingbetween the ring 16 and the head 12. In other embodiments, the level maybe located nearer the handle 13 than the head 12, or nearer to the head12 than to the handle 13.

In use the golfer lays the putter on the green between the ball and thepin, and can read the slope of the green or an analogue thereof from ascale 18 of the spirit level. In this respect it is noted that a normalspirit level has only a single marking indicating horizontal. In someembodiments, the spirit level may have several markings indicating thedegree of slope relative to horizontal. From this information, thegolfer may gain an intuitive feel for the degree of slope in the greenby noting the degree to which the bubble has moved away from itshorizontal position.

FIG. 3 illustrates the spirit level 14 when viewed in the direction ofarrow 17. The level includes line markings 18 indicative of slope oneither side of the horizontal, and the usual bubble 19.

The spirit level tube may be arched in order to better show non-levelconditions whilst maintaining a stable bubble position.

A sliding cover or sleeve (not shown), which may be spring loaded, maybe provided to cover the spirit level when not in use. For example, inone embodiment the sleeve may be configured so that the level isrevealed for a practice session, and then covered when the putter isused during competition.

The spirit level casing may be of glass, but is preferably of plastic toimprove the robustness thereof. Setting screws may be included to allowthe horizontal to be accurately indicated in relation to a referencehorizontal surface.

In use the golfer may take several sightings between ball and pin, andalso measure transverse slopes by suitable putter positioning.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications can be made without departing from thisinvention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the appended claims are toencompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of this invention.

1. A golf club, comprising: a shaft having a shaft axis; and a spiritlevel located along the shaft axis.
 2. A golf club according to claim 1wherein said level is viewable from the side of the club.
 3. A golf clubaccording to claim 2 wherein said level is incorporated within thehandle of the golf club.
 4. A golf club according to claim 1 whereinsaid level is incorporated within the handle of the golf club.
 5. A clubaccording to claim 3 wherein said level is positioned opposite the palmposition of the lower hand grip.
 6. A club according to claim 1 whereinsaid level is incorporated within the shaft of the golf club.
 7. A clubaccording to claim 2 wherein said level is incorporated within the shaftof the golf club.
 8. A club according to claim 1 wherein said level isincorporated within the head of the golf club.
 9. A club according toclaim 2 wherein said level is incorporated within the head of the golfclub.
 10. A club according to claim 1 wherein said level has two or morespaced markings indicative of increasing slope away from truehorizontal.
 11. A club according to claim 2 wherein said level has twoor more spaced markings indicative of increasing slope away from truehorizontal.
 12. A club according to claim 3 wherein said level has twoor more spaced markings indicative of increasing slope away from truehorizontal.
 13. A club according to claim 4 wherein said level has twoor more spaced markings indicative of increasing slope away from truehorizontal.
 14. A club according to claim 5 wherein said level has twoor more spaced markings indicative of increasing slope away from truehorizontal.
 15. A club according to claim 6 wherein said level has twoor more spaced markings indicative of increasing slope away from truehorizontal.
 16. A club according to claim 7 wherein said level has twoor more spaced markings indicative of increasing slope away from truehorizontal.
 17. A club according to claim 8 wherein said level has twoor more spaced markings indicative of increasing slope away from truehorizontal.
 18. A club according to claim 9 wherein said level has twoor more spaced markings indicative of increasing slope away from truehorizontal.
 19. A club according to claim 10 having said markings oneither side of horizontal.
 20. A club according to claim 11 having saidmarkings on either side of horizontal.
 21. A club according to claim 12having said markings on either side of horizontal.
 22. A club accordingto claim 13 having said markings on either side of horizontal.
 23. Aclub according to claim 14 having said markings on either side ofhorizontal.
 24. A club according to claim 15 having said markings oneither side of horizontal.
 25. A club according to claim 16 having saidmarkings on either side of horizontal.
 26. A club according to claim 17having said markings on either side of horizontal.
 27. A club accordingto claim 18 having said markings on either side of horizontal.
 28. Aclub according to claim 1 adapted to have two widely spaced groundcontacting features.
 29. A club according to claim 28 wherein saidfeatures comprise the club handle and the club head.
 30. A clubaccording to claim 1 further including a cover for said spirit level.31. A method for determining the degree slope in a putting green,comprising the steps: providing a putter having a shaft, a grip, and aspirit level disposed on the shaft or grip, the spirit level includingmarkings located on either side of horizontal; placing the putter on thesurface of the putting green so that said level faces upwards; andidentifying the degree of slope in the green relative to horizontal byinspection of said level.